Engine



C. L. E. MUELLER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY3. i918.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

tube 19 in place in the member 13, and this nut, with the nut 26, forming a binding post for attachment thereto of one of the wires leading from a source of sparking current in accordance with common practice. rllhe tube 19 below the nut 2O contains in its side wall, opposed openings 27 which communicate with the space 21 and consequently with the interior of the cylinder of the engine to which the spark-plug is applied. The electrede 9 in the form of a rod, is secured in the lower end of the tube 19, and slidably mounted upon this tube between the nut 21 and its lower expanded extremity, is a sleeve 2S forming a valve for the openings 2'7.

Surmounting the nut 2G is a plural-valve air-controlling valve-device formed, according to the preferred embodiment of my invention, of a casing 127 which is screwed upon the upper threaded portion 26 of the nut 26 and contains valve-seats 29 and 30, a pair of valves 31 and 32 cooperating with said seats, respectively, and another valve operating through the upper end of the casing 127 as hereinafter described. The valve proper 31, which is an inwardly-opening check-valve, is provided with i stein 33 rigidly secured to a stem extension 3i, which has sliding fit in an openingl in the upper end of the casing 127, the lower end of this stein-extension being in the form of a crosshead 36 to guide the valve 31 and its coperating parts in their movement as hereinafter described, but permitting` of 'the passage of air from the top to the bottom of the casing; and the upper end of this stem-extension being of hollow form as represented at 37, with an opening in its upper end and a series of relatively small open-ings 38 in its side wall, which open into the hollow part 37, this portion of the stem forming the above-referred-to valve operating through the top of the casing. A spiral spring 39 surrounding` the stem 33 and ooniined between the underside of the cross-head 36 and a partition a() in the casing 127 and in which the valve-seat 29 contained, operates normally to hold the valve 31 closed. The valve 32 is slidably mounted on the stein-extension 34 and is normally held at its packed portion 1-1 against the seat 39, by the action of a coiled spring 42- surroundingl the stein-extension 3-t and conlined between the upper surface of the cross-head 3G and the under surface of the valve 32, the latter being preferably formed with depending sleeve-extension 43 which opposes an annular shoulder t on the stem-extension 3. the spring 42 being` weaker than the spring 39. The parts of the structure just oescrihed are so constructed and arranged that in the normal 1positions thereof (Fig. 1), the

shown, and the springs l2 and 39 exert sul -v stantially the same pressure.

In the operation of the engine equipped with the spark-plug, the suction produced in the cylinder of the engine upon its suction-stroke, causes suction to be exerted in the valve-equipped passage in the sparkplug, whereupon the valve 31, together with its stem-extension 341- lowers in the casing (Fig. 2), opening the latter to the suction action referred to, which draws the air from the casing 127 into the passage in the tube 19, thence out through the openings 27 and through the lower end of the spark-plug into the cylinder of the engine. ln the low! ering of the valve 31 as state( the spring compresses and the spring elongates, the valve 32 remaining against its seat until the openings 38 are lowered to such a point that air may enter through the portion 37 and into the easing 127 above the valve 3my whereupon the latter becomes unseated against the action of the spring 112 (Fig. 3), due to the partial vacuum created in thel casing 127 by the suction action of the engine on the contents of the casing as stated. The duration of the suction of the engine upon the contents of 'the easing 127 is momentary and the valve 31 and valve worl7- ing through the top of the casing are so proportioned and the springs so tensione/d that the valve 31 closes before any air exterior of the casing, can pass beyond the valve .31 by direct communication ot this part of the structure with the atmosphere. In other words, the parts of the valve structure are so proportioned and tensioned that the effect of the suction exerted by the engine on the casing 127, at each suction stroke of the engine, is to open the valve 31 for a suilicient length of time only to cause the air which enters the sparloplug and oonsequently the cylinder, with each suction stroke, to be air which was introduced into the casing 127 immediately following the previous suction stroke and enterii the ons ing 127 by reason of the reduced pressi e created therein in the opening of the valve 31. It will be noted from this that the air which is drawn into the cylinder upon each suction stroke is thus subjected to 'the heat which is contained in the walls of the valve device and is to a degree preheated before its entry into the main portion of the sparkL plug. Furthermore, it may be stated that an additional advantage resulting from my invention is that should particles of carbon become interposed between the valve 31 and the seat 29 of such volume as to render this valve leaky, the disadvantages of direct communication of the cylinder with the atmosphere will nevertheless be overcome.

With each suction stroke of the engine, a charge of air will loe drawn through the spark-plug and into the cylinder with the A xi result oi displacing the burned gases in the loiver end of' the spark-plug and in the adjacent portion of the cylinder, resulting from irevious explosions, thus minimizing the accumulation ot carbon in the spark-plug and cooling the lower end ot the latter to prevent premature ignition, the valve 28 by reason of the torce exerted against its lower end, when explosions occur in the cylinder, moving to a position in Which it closes the openings 27 and thereby aids in keeping the tube 19 in clean condition.

While it is desirable to employ the valve 32, especially to prevent leakage, this is not essential to the carrying out of my invention as to certain Jfeatures of the plural valve-device, this valve may be eliminated, and the control of the air effected by the cooperating valve 3l and the valve which is 'formed on the top of the stem 34.

lVhile I have illustrated my improved valve-device in connection with a sparkplug, I do not Wish to be understood as intending to limit it to its use in this connection, nor do I Wish to be understood as intending to limit my invention to its. embodiment inl a valve of this particular construction, it being my intention to claim my invention as fully and completely as the prior state of the art will permit.

vWhat I cla-im as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. In an internal combustion engine, the combination With a space Which is subjected intermittently to suction, of a passage in communication WithV said space and communicating with the atmosphere, and valvemechanism controlling the inlet of airinto said passage under the said suction comprising an inner valve and an outer valve, said valves being independently movable, and means cooperating With said valves and operating to hold said outer valve closed until after said inner valve opens.

2. in an internal combustion engine, the

combination with a space which is subjected intermittently to suction, of a passage in communication with said space and cominunicating with the atmosphere, and valvemechanism controlling the inlet of air into said passage under said suction comprising an inner valve and an outer valve, said valves being independently movable, and spring means cooperating with said valves and operating to hold said outer valve closed until after said inner valve opens.

ln an internal combustion engine, the combination with a space Which is subjected intermittently to suction, of a passage in communication With said space and communicating with the atmosphere, and valvemechanism controlling the inlet of air into said passage under said suction comprising an inner valve and an outer valve, said valves being independently movable, and `spring gag means cooperating with said valves, said spring cooperating with said inner valve presenting Agreater resistance than the spring cooperating with said outer valve.

4l. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a space which is subjected intermittently toV suction, of a passage in communication with said space and communicating with the atmosphere, and valve mechanism controlling the inlet of air into said passage under said suction comprising an inner valve having a hollow extension containing a port in its side Wall, a casing cooperating -with said valve and through an end of which said extension is slidable, a spring tending to seat said valve, a second valve at the outer end of said casing and when in one position closing said port to the interior of said closing, and a spring forcing said second valve to closed position.

o. ln an internal combustion engine, the combination with a space which is subjected intermittently to suction, oi a passage in` communication with said space and communicating with the atmosphere, and valvemechanism controlling the inlet of air into said passage under the said suction Vcomprising a casing, an inner valve controlling the inner end of said casing, an outer valve in said casing.,` said valves being independently movable, means operatively connected with said inner valve for opening saidcasing to the atmosphere beyond said outer valve after said innei` valve has opened, and means for forcing said valves to their seats.

o. ln an internal combustion engine, the combination with a space which is subjected intermittently to suction, of a passage in communication with said space and communicating with the atmosphere, and valvemechanism controlling the inlet of air into said passage under the said suction comprising a casing, an inner valve controlling the inner end of said casing, the stem of said valve having a shoulder Within said casing and provided with a hollow extension containing a port in its side Wall, said extension having sliding iit in the outer end of said casing and said port, when said valve is closed, extending out o'l communication with the interior of said casing, a spring engaging said shoulder for holding said valve to its seat, a second valve slidably engaging said extension and seating against the outer end Wall ot said casino', and a spring engaging said second valve for releasably holding it to its seat.

internal combustion engine containing cylinder Wall for communication 1 t. .rior oi the cylinder With the atinosphf t, a normally closed valve device in said passage constructed and i. :in

Varranged to o )en b the suction action ci? the suction action and prevent escape ot air trom said passage to the atmosphere, and a' second valve located hetveen said firstnamed valve and the interior oi said cylinde and controliingl said passage.

8. n internal combustion engine containing a passage in its cylinder Wall tor comnninication ot the interior ot the cylinder with the atmosphere, a valve device in said passagev constructed yand arranged to n in* Lhe suction action ot the engine and r to enter said passage and thence said cviinder by said suction action Vevent escape ot from said passage o c atmosphere, the inner end of said ass ge beingl in the torni ot a tube having Vall ported, and au automatically `s suie opeiating` ralre 1oetween the engine cylinder and said last-reterred-to opening' controlling the latter.

f), Ain internal con bastion engine containing a passage in its cylinder wall tor communication of the interior ot the cylinder with the atinosphere` a Yaire device in said passage constructed and .arranged to open by the suction action ot' the engine and permit air to enter said passage and thence pass into said cyiinder by said suction action and prevent escape of air from said passage to the atmosphere, the inner end ot said passage being in the torni oit a tube having its side Wall poited and a slidevalve on said tube tor controliiug the ported portion thereot'.

i0. :in internal conbusl o aining a passge i-i its ci lincer .rail tor the cylina Yaiie-d e in and arranged to action. ot t ie crgine and c d thence in action passage on by the suctioi 'r to enter said passage ai into said cylinder by said suet prevent escape ot air from sai to '1hD atniospnre. the inner end ot said passage being; in the term ot a depending,` tube ,rith its side Wall ported7 and a slide- Valve mounted en said tube toi' controlling a ported portion thereof.

ll.. i n interi al combustion engine, the combination with a space which is subjected intermittently to suction, ot a passage in n1 unA communica communication with said space and coinninuicating with the atmosphere, and valve n'iechanisni controlling the inlet ct air into said passzge under the suction cominising,l a casing, an inner valve and an outer valve, and neans whereby, under the suction action, said outer valve maintains sail ccsing cloA ed to the atmosphere, untii at inner valve opens.

l2. in an internal combustion engine, the combination with a space which is subjected intermittently to suction, ot a passage in ion with said space and comuitli the atniospheie, and contr lli-us' the iniet oit air into said passage under the casing, an inner valve opeiativelgv connected to ranoed to cause said lo tain said L v l tei said.

municating meel anisni i valve to maincasingf ciosecl to the atmosphere, until after said inner valve opens.

.lf-3. In an internal coinhu tion ei gine, the

combination with a space n'hie erinittentljv to suction, ot communicati i `i said spa muni-ating with t ie at'mosp ie nie'clianisn. cont 'i said passage i' h is subjected 'i pawige in e and coine, and

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casing, an inn val veharing a tc outer slide valve foi ned on said stein and controlling` the admission ot air to said casing, said valves eingfed a said outer taire to in eiosed to the atinosphc inner faite opens.

il. An internai combn'tion engine containing a passage in its cylinder Wall tor cominuuieation ot the exterior ot the cylinder With the atmosph r rmally closed, spring; control"al e foustructe he suction ac l vice in sai? pasand arranged to open a* V4ngine and permit air to enter said passage i nd thence pass int 'l by said suction e ltion escape ot' air l'rom said mosohere. and a second faire locatel` said first-named valve and the interior ot said cylinder and controlling' said passage.

o and CUR? L. E. MUELL.. 

